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When it comes to owning and protecting a waterfront home, the seawall is an important part of your property. A seawall performs two major functions: physically protecting your property from losing land mass to erosion from a water front, and also designating the boundary of your private property.

If you are deciding between seawall materials, here is some helpful information! Bear in mind that it is common to combine different types of seawall materials to suit your individual needs (like a vinyl seawall covering concrete, or a rip rap seawall covering vinyl).

Concrete

Concrete seawalls have been the industry standard. Their expected lifespan is thirty years. Often they may exceed their lifespan. The important factor in a concrete seawall’s lifespan is the strength of the reinforcing steel, which must be protected from the corrosive water. The reinforcing steel is typically protected by a concrete cover. Concrete seawalls will require ongoing maintenance, usually repairs to cracks and holes in the concrete cover to prevent corrosion of the reinforcing steel. These damages occur naturally from exposure to marine conditions.

Vinyl

Vinyl seawalls have a greater life expectancy than concrete, lasting up to fifty years. It could also be considered more aesthetically pleasing – from color choice, to the fact that vinyl seawalls will not corrode, rust, crack, or rot from sea water. Vinyl may be installed in front of an old concrete seawall. The installation process is also generally less invasive and time-consuming, as vinyl weighs less than concrete and doesn’t require the same heavy equipment to install. Vinyl does have height limitations, and may not be driven into certain hard surfaces.

Rip Rap

A rip rap seawall is one composed of rocks, stones, and other material arranged along the wall, giving protection from corrosion while also delivering a beautiful and natural look. The rip rap absorbs waves coming toward your property, dissipating the wave’s energy and protecting your seawall from erosion. It will also provide a habitat for marine life, allowing plants and animals to thrive right in your backyard. Rip rap is fairly simple to maintain and repair, although it requires annual examination to ensure stability.

Generally, after listing your home, you’d like to sell it as quickly as possible for the best price possible! The following tips for upgrading your home’s desirability will engineer positive results – and fast!

1. Curb Appeal

If your home is a single-family residence, the importance of great curb appeal cannot be overstated. Many buyers will drive by the home before requesting to tour, and often will make a swift decision based upon what they see from the outside. Ensure that your home looks it’s absolute best by:
-Power-washing the exterior to remove grime that may have become invisible to your naked eye!
-Making certain that the house numbers are clear and visible.
-Mowing the yard carefully, and consider adding some blooming flowers or fresh greenery around the home. Reseeding and adding sod is a great idea, also.
-Wash your front windows, and repaint the front porch if necessary.

2. Inviting Entrance

Make your potential buyers feel right at home – add a few blooming potted plants on your stoop, or perhaps some sharp porch furniture if you have the space for it. Turning on exterior lights in the evening is a good idea, in case the potential buyers do an evening drive-by.

3. Clean, Clean, Clean!

If you are unable to make every inch of your home SPARKLE with your own efforts, hiring a professional to clean the home is a worthy investment. This step is important – don’t skimp!

4. DECLUTTER!

CLEAN, CLEAR spaces, surfaces, closets, and cupboards read as more spacious to buyers. Hide anything that is unnecessary! Once you get your personal effects out of sight, consider displaying a few well-selected items to embellish the space – vases of cut flowers, attractive glass bowls filled with fresh fruit, etc.

5. Flooring

Don’t forget to deeply clean your floors – steam clean your carpets, consider refinishing wood floors if they’re a little TOO well-loved. If refinishing isn’t an option for you, large area rugs can be of great use.

6. Style for Style

Arrange your furniture in an aesthetically pleasing fashion – symmetrical layouts look the most elegant. Leave space between your furniture and the wall, and remember that chairs, end-tables, and lamps tend to look the best in pairs. A neutral color palette for your walls will provide a sophisticated look. Ensure that every room has a cohesive “purpose” – sometimes we end up using extra rooms for storage, which reads as messy to a buyer. Try setting up a spare room as something useful, like an extra bedroom, child’s room etc. You can rent or borrow the appropriate furniture for the most cost-effective option.

7. Pets

We love our pets so much that we tend to grow accustomed and familiar with their various odors, which is not helpful for selling your home. Make sure to pay extra attention to the cleaning aspects of staging, especially with floors and any surfaces the animals may have come into contact with. Get all of the rugs steam-cleaned, and take your precious pets to a friend’s home while your home is being shown.

8. Lifestyle and Location

Flaunt your area’s most desired attributes by staging your backyard space to reflect your community! Hang a casual hammock in the backyard to signify blissful relaxation. Appoint a small patio or balcony with an al fresco dining scene – simply cover a small table with a cheerful table cloth, arrange some ceramic mugs and perhaps a small vase of cut flowers, and voila!